Chemoprevention in lung cancer

EGFR signaling is required for TGF-beta 1 mediated COX-2 induction in human bronchial epithelial cells

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a key enzyme in the production of prostaglandins and thromboxanes from free arachidonic acid. Increasing evidence suggests that COX-2 plays a role in tumorigenesis. A variety of stimuli induce COX-2 and it is overexpressed in many tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We studied the regulation of COX-2 expression in immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) by transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) because these two growth factors are present in both the pulmonary milieu of those at risk for lung cancer as well as in the tumor microenvironment. EGF significantly enhanced TGF-beta1-mediated induction of COX-2 and corresponding prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. TGF-beta1 and EGF induced COX-2 at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. EGF receptor (EGFR) inhibition, neutralizing antibody against amphiregulin, or mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibition blocked TGF-beta1-mediated COX-2 induction. COX-2 induction by TGF-beta1 depended upon Smad3 signaling and required the activity of EGFR or its downstream mediators. Autocrine amphiregulin signaling maintains EGFR in a constitutively active state in HBECs, allowing for COX-2 induction by TGF-beta1. Thus, EGFR ligands, which are abundant in the pulmonary microenvironment of those at risk for lung cancer, potentiate and are required for COX-2 induction by TGF-beta1 in HBEC. These findings emphasize the central role of EGFR signaling in COX-2 induction by TGF-beta1 and suggest that inhibition of EGFR signaling should be investigated further for lung cancer prevention.

Carcinogenicity studies of inhaled cigarette smoke in laboratory animals: old and new

A new study demonstrates that lifetime whole-body exposure of B6C3F1 mice to high doses of cigarette smoke robustly increases lung cancer incidence compared with sham exposed animals. This is the first study to demonstrate a strong effect of inhaled cigarette smoke on lung cancer in an animal model. This commentary attempts to put the new results in perspective with the existing literature on cigarette smoke inhalation studies in animals and discusses strengths, limitations and possible applications of available models.